Container for paper napkins and the like



Oct. 19 1926.

J. c. RAPPLEYE CONTAINER FOR PAPER NAPKINS AND THE LIKE Filed Oct. 3, 1922 2 Sheefs-Sheet 1 hwy/m? M W A a P w 6 7 y m F m J. C. RAPE"! CONTAINER FOR PAPER NAPKINS AND THE LIKE Filed Otl 3, 192?? 2 Sheets Shesi;

Patented a. 19, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES C. RAPPLEYE, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO GOLCO SANI- TARY SYSTEM, INC., 0]? PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

CONTAINER FOR PAYER NAPKINS AND THE LIKE.

Application filed October 3. 1922. Serial No. 592,004.

pensing of paper. napkins, towels, etc., for

use in lunch rooms, wash rooms, etc.

In the use of the present type of containers, it has been found that considerable waste results from the fact that the types of con- 0 tainers used either permit the user of the napkins or towels to withdraw a number at one time or because of their construction allow a number to be dispensed on the attempted withdrawal of one because of the adherence of the napkins or towels toeach other.

The principal cause of waste arises from the adherence of the napkins or towels to each other, which causes underlying units to get out of position on the withdrawal of the uppermost unit and this is especially true in the case of paper napkins which are of light paper and somewhat crinkled, which adds to their tendency to adhere.

Now the object of my invention is to provide a container so constructed as to hold paper napkins in position for withdrawal and at the same time so constructed as to prevent the displacement of underlying nap.

kins and insure the withdrawal of one napkin at a time.

Having now indicated in a general way I the nature,'purpose and advantages of my 1 invention, I willproceed to describe a preferred embodiment thereof with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a perspective View of a container for pa per napkins, embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the containcr shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view showing details of one end of the container.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view on line 4, Figure Fig. 5 is a sectional view of a portion of the container taken on line 5, Figure 3.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a modified form of container embodying my invention.

Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the con- 60 tainer shown in Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary perspective view of one corner of the container shown in Figures 6 and 7.

Fig. 9 is a view of a detail of the construction of the container shown in 1 1g. 6.

Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a modified form of container.

Referring to Figures 15': the body a of the container is proportioned to hold a required supply of paper napkins b interfoldedas shown in Figure 2. The sides of the container are provided adjacent their ends with vertically extending grooves 0 into which extend the ends of round rods d. The rods (i are rotatable and rest on top of the supply of napkins adjacent the sides thereof and are free to travel downward as the height of the pile of napkins is decreased by the withdrawal of individual napkins. Hinged to the upper edge of the sides of the container are flaps e,'e extending toward but short of the center line of the container and provided beneath their free edges With beads f. The ends of the container are beaded, a portion of the beading a: being hinged to permit stop projections thereon to be moved out of the way of the flaps when they are turned back for charging.

When the container is charged, the flaps are thrown out, the rods d removed and a pile of interfolded napkins is placed within the body of the container. The rods d are then entered in the grooves and rest on the napkins and the flaps are turned in so that the beads f on their free edges rest on the napkins.

In withdrawing the first napkin as shown in Fig. 2, the end of the topmost or first napkin b is drawn around the bead f of the left-hand flap e, the two folds of the first napkin together with the top fold of the next napkin are drawn from under rod d at the left and around said bead f. The top fold of the second napkin is now interposed between bead f of the right-hand flap e and the lower fold of the first napkin or the napkin being withdrawn. As the first napkin is now further withdrawn, it will be drawn from between the folds of the second napkin and from under rod d at the right-hand side, which rod will retain the top and bottom folds of the second napkin from moving with the first napkin by frictional engagement with the latter and will retain the second napkin in folded position on the stack. When the second napkin is withdrawn, the

' flaps e and rods function in the opposite order from that just described, the rod d at the left-hand side functioning to return the top and bottom folds of the third napkin from moving with the second napkin.

Referring now to F gures 6-9: the ends of container 7 are each provided with four vertically extending grooves it, adapted to receive the ends of four rods 2', two of said rods being secured on the underside of plate 71', while the others are secured to a similar plate, one rod of each set being positioned beneath the inner edge of its plate while the other is positioned adjacent the outer edge of the plate; a hinged portion of the heading 3] on ends of the container being provided with projections to prevent the removal of the plates unless swung into clearing position. The operation of this modified container is similar to that of the conta ner shown in Figs, 15.

Referring now to Figure 10: the container j is provided with a top I. which is provided with a central longitudinal slot. Beneath the top, and at opposite sides of the con tainer, are positioned spring members m, which may be, for example, of cardboard, having beads 71 formed on their free ends. In operation, the beads n bear against the pile of napkins adjacent its edges and perform the same function as the rods d, Fig. 2, or rods 2', Fig. 6.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

A dispensing device for a stack of interfolded napkins having a bottom adapted to support a stack of interfolded napkins, side and end walls, cover members hinged to opposite side walls and normally extending downwardly and toward each other, the free edges of said members be ng spaced apart and adapted to rest under the influence of gravity on a stack of napkins adjacent the longitudinal center thereof, a pair of stack retainers independent of the cover members adapted to rest on the stack of napkins under the influence of gravity, said stack retainers being revoluble and vertically movable and positioned adjacent the side walls respectively and extending in parallelism with each other and the free edges of said cover members.

In testimony of which invention, 1 have hereunto set my hand, at Philadelphia, Pa., on this 29th day of September, 1922.

JAMES C. RAPPLEYE. 

